On initial impressions it may look like the only real difference between cacao and cocoa is the spelling. There’s a little bit more to it than that …
What is cacao?
Cacao can refer to any of the foodstuff derived from cacao beans– the seeds or nuts of the cacao tree. These include cacao nibs, cacao butter, cacao mass or paste and (probably the most typical) cacao powder
Cacao v cocoa powder.
Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. The process keeps the living enzymes in the cocoa and eliminates the fat (cacao butter).
Cocoa looks the same but it’s not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at heats. Regretfully, roasting modifications the molecular structure of the cocoa bean, lowering the enzyme content and lowering the total nutritional worth.
The studies that possess chocolate’s incredible health benefits are likely not referring to your average store-bought chocolate bar (damn deceptive scientists). The chocolate that they’re referring to has residential or commercial properties closer to raw cacao.
What are the health advantages of cacao?
Cacao powder is known to have a higher antioxidant content than cocoa and has been linked to a range of advantages. These compounds don’t resemble sugary supermarket cocoa and are really comparable to raw cacao in kind.).
These studies have actually revealed that the substances:.
Lower insulin resistance.
Safeguard your nervous system: Cacao is high in resveratrol, a potent anti-oxidant likewise found in red wine, known for its capability to cross your blood-brain barrier to assist secure your nervous system.
Guard afferent neuron from damage.
Cut your danger of stroke.
Lower blood pressure.
Lower your danger of heart disease: The anti-oxidants found in cacao aid to preserve healthy levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. NO has heart-benefiting qualities, such as relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure, it likewise produces contaminants. The anti-oxidants in cacao reduce the effects of these toxic substances, securing your heart and avoiding illness.
Guard against contaminants: As a potent anti-oxidant, cacao can fix the damage caused by free radicals and might minimize the threat of certain cancers. Cacao contains far more antioxidants per 100g than acai, goji berries, and blueberries. Anti-oxidants are accountable for 10 per cent of the weight of raw cacao.
Boost your mood: Cacao can increase levels of specific neurotransmitters that promote a sense of well-being. When we experience deep feelings of love– phenylethylamine– is found in chocolate, and the very same brain chemical that is released.
Supply minerals: Magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc and manganese.
If cacao is more helpful than cocoa because it’s raw, exactly what happens when we prepare it?
Excellent question and we’re happy you asked. There is no present research on whether consuming raw cacao damages its antioxidant level, making it more akin to its heated and processed cousin cocoa. We figure starting off with the product in its raw kind, has to be more helpful than beginning with an already heated up and processed equivalent.
Let’s end with an intriguing tidbit.
Research reveals that dairy inhibits the absorption of antioxidants from raw cacao.
If you’re making a cacao shake you’re better off utilizing a non-dairy milk, such as almond or coconut, in order to enjoy all of the antioxidant benefits. Fact!
Another fact: Did you understand you can eat chocolate on our I Quit Sugar: 8-Week Program?
One concern I get a lot is – what is a superfood? Undoubtedly they’ve simply hyped up versions of regular food.
Well, not quite … Superfoods are simply that – foods which contain substantially higher quantities of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other health-boosting, anti-aging, disease-fighting goodies. Some are everyday whole foods that you’ll likely have tried before (believe broccoli, blueberries; even the modest spud). Others are more unique, grown in the rainforests of Peru and selected by Amazonian warriors (alright, possibly not quite).
To assist you out in your mission to dominate, or a minimum of explore, the amazing world of superfoods, every couple of weeks I’ll be spilling the (cacao) beans on a superfood of your choice. You’ll get the low down on what it is, why you should be consuming it, and some simple and fast ways to do so (even for the non-chefs amongst).
UP: CACAO – THE AMAZONIAN ANTIOXIDANT KING.
Raw cacao is rather different from the common “Cocoa” most of us grew up with in our Afghan biscuits. Cacao (noticable “cu-COW”) refers to the Theobroma Cacao tree from which Cocoa is derived, and is used when referring to unprocessed variations of the cacao bean.
Typical cocoa powder and chocolate have actually been chemically processed and roasted, which damages a large quantity of the antioxidants and flavanols (the important things that keep you young and healthy). A current study recommended that between 60% and 90% of the original antioxidants in cacao are lost through typical “Dutch processing”. Dutch processing was originally developed in the early 19th Century to minimize the bitterness, darken the colour, and develop a more mellow flavour to chocolate, but sadly likewise got rid of a lot of the goodness.
Non-organic cocoa (and non-organic chocolate) has likewise been treated heavily with poisonous pesticides and fumigation chemicals and may contain genetically customized (GMO) items.
If that wasn’t enough, Oxfam approximates that over 70% of the world’s cocoa is grown by native communities who are paid such a low wage that poverty is extensive. In some instances, kid servants are utilized, forced to engage in harmful work such as utilizing machetes and applying hazardous pesticides. Big reward to reach for a bar of fairly traded chocolate when your next yearning hits!
Raw Organic Fairly Traded Cacao, in contrast, has abundant advantages, so you can add it to your diet with no guilt, just good old chocolatey deliciousness.
5 BENEFITS OF RAW ORGANIC CACAO.
1. 40 Times the Antioxidants of Blueberries.
Raw Organic Cacao has over 40 times the anti-oxidants of blueberries. ORAC scores determine the ability of antioxidants to take in free radicals (that come from contamination and toxins in our environment), which cause cell and tissue damage and can lead to illness such as cancer.
2. Highest Plant-Based Source of Iron.
On a plant-based/vegan diet and looking for iron? The search is over! Cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron understood to man, at a tremendous 7.3 mg per 100g. This compares to beef and lamb at 2.5 mg and spinach at 3.6 mg. Note the iron in cacao is non-heme (as is all plant-based iron), so to get the optimum benefits you’ll wish to integrate it with some vitamin C. Think oranges, kiwifruit, superfoods like binge or Camu Camu (which have 40x more vitamin C than oranges), or experiment with my Choc Orange Smoothie recipe for a Jaffa-tasting throwback.
3. Full of Magnesium for a Healthy Heart & Brain.
Raw Organic Cacao is also among the highest plant-based sources of magnesium, the most deficient mineral in the Western world. Magnesium is necessary for a healthy heart and helps turn glucose into energy allowing your brain to deal with laser-sharp clarity and focus. The reason why you might turn to a bar of chocolate throughout an all-nighter at your desk!
4. More Calcium Than Cow’s Milk.
Raw Organic Cacao has more calcium than cow’s milk would you think, at 160mg per 100g vs the only 125mg per 100ml of milk. Time to switch out the trim latte for a number of squares of dairy free raw chocolate.
5. A Natural Mood Elevator and Anti-Depressant.
Cacao is a great source of four scientifically proven bliss chemicals – serotonin, phenylethylamine, anandamide and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are related to cosy feelings of wellness, joy, and can even relieve depression. A natural, healthy, delicious (and legal) method to obtain your happy buzz on.
4 WAYS TO USE RAW ORGANIC CACAO.
1. Brew Up A Hot (or Cold) Chocolate MIlk.
Add 1 Tbsp of raw cacao powder to a mug, gather 1c of warmed plant-based milk, and add 1-2 Tsp of natural organic unprocessed sweeteners such as yacon syrup, agave syrup, coconut nectar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup. Or for a super simple variation, try my Warming Hot Cacao Chocolate recipe.
For a cold choccie milk, add 1 Tbsp of hot water to the raw cacao powder and sweetener initially to dissolve, then include 1c of cold milk and a few ice cubes (or attempt this Chocolate Milk dish).
Note: some studies have shown that dairy items block the absorption of antioxidants and calcium in cacao, so save the cow’s milk for the calfs.
2. Whizz Into a Smoothie.
Add 1-2 Tbsp of raw cacao powder or nibs to your routine smoothie. Or try our Rich Chocolate Smoothie or Choc Orange Jaffa Smoothie for an added vitamin C boost. When you’re done, spray raw cacao nibs on top for crunch element and to make it look all quite.
3. Rip Open a Bar.
No cooking here – simply grab a bar of raw natural chocolate, burglarize squares, and serve with some natural nuts, dried fruit, natural tea, and a whole lot of love.
4. “Bake” a Raw Brownie.
Attempt your hands on our Raw Brownie, that includes cacao powder and cacao nibs, and will be sure to quench any chocolate cravings in a 2nd (100% regret totally free). It’s also gluten totally free, wheat complimentary, sugar-free, dairy complimentary, vegetarian, vegan and paleo, so everybody’s invited to the celebration.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE:.
Add some raw organic fair trade dairy-free cacao into your life today. Lads, even you can do this one (see ideas # 1, # 2 and # 3).
Get your healthy chocolate on now.
Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at high temperature levels. These compounds do not resemble sweet grocery store cocoa and are really similar to raw cacao in kind.).
Antioxidants are accountable for 10 per cent of the weight of raw cacao.
There is no existing research on whether or not eating raw cacao ruins its antioxidant level, making it more akin to its heated and processed cousin cocoa. Raw Organic Cacao has over 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries.
from Raw Organic Powder
via Cacao Vida
Cited From Honey Guard
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